PSA - That "idiot" driver on the road who is making you so mad....

[ckay87]

....might just be my son learning how to drive. Trust me, we are doing the best we can, so BACK OFF!

Seriously, this whole experience has made ME a much more patient and humble driver.

 

[Imzadi]

Don't you have one of those signs you put on with a suction cup: "Student Driver on Board"?

Or maybe, this is more appropriate: "If this vehicle is driven in a unsafe manner, call... (your cell phone number)"

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good luck to you. I've been through that twice.

When DD, now 23, was first driving, we were on a back road in a rural area. A guy yells at us to "learn to drive." I yelled back that that was exactly what we were doing. He didn't care but my DD was impressed I stuck up for her.

 

[pooh6890]

I absolutely agree with you. When I was teaching both of my daughters to drive, we would get the worst looks and honks from people. It was always at a corner where we were turning right. They would honk when THEY thought it was safe to turn. Turning right on red is not mandatory, it is an option!

 

[MM27]

my mom taught me how to drive. I thought I was too cool to go to driving school.

 

[Carly_Roach]

It's been awhile ago, but if my parents were teaching us how to drive we stayed out of other people's way. We drove on side streets, practiced in parking lots and didn't drive during high traffic volume hours. Technically, it's illegal to allow your child to drive without even a permit for the very same reason you probaby made this post; it's unsafe, it interferes with the traffic patterns, and you get angry drivers trying to negotiate around your child.

If you're not going to have a Driver's Ed sign on your car, at least keep him off the roads and out of the way of other drivers. With the DE sign other drivers may be more patient and understanding. Without the DE sign other drivers may think there's either a kook behind the wheel or (worse) someone intentionally trying to tick them off.

 

[ckay87]

It's been awhile ago, but if my parents were teaching us how to drive we stayed out of other people's way. We drove on side streets, practiced in parking lots and didn't drive during high traffic volume hours. Technically, it's illegal to allow your child to drive without even a permit for the very same reason you probaby made this post; it's unsafe, it interferes with the traffic patterns, and you get angry drivers trying to negotiate around your child.

If you're not going to have a Driver's Ed sign on your car, at least keep him off the roads and out of the way of other drivers. With the DE sign other drivers may be more patient and understanding. Without the DE sign other drivers may think there's either a kook behind the wheel or (worse) someone intentionally trying to tick them off.

I have never seen these Driver's Ed signs - where do you find them? I guess I could always make my own.

We certainly are starting out on the back roads (graduating from the parking lots) and let me assure you that they can be the worst. People FLY on those roads sometimes. And then, no matter how well the kid can navigate side streets, we have to take them out in the traffic sometime. And when we do, they just are not going to do everything perfectly.

 

[Saphire]

In the greater Boston area, drivers are often aggresive, rude, and in a hurry. My daughter came home a few times in tears because people were so obnoxious. I think the swearing got to her the most. The thing is, she doesn't drive too slow or in an aggravating way, she drives normally! Often, just going the speed limit or not jumping into traffic when there is the slightest opening can get you into trouble.

It is one of my biggest pet peeves. And the way some drivers treat the elderly is horrifying! I think you can tell the character of someone by the way they treat other drivers, I really do.

 

[KSchwagg86]

Or maybe, this is more appropriate: "If this vehicle is driven in a unsafe manner, call... (your cell phone number)"

haha-I like that one!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I have never seen these Driver's Ed signs - where do you find them?

In Maryland you can get a magnetic "Rookie Driver" sign when a child gets their learner's permit.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

We certainly are starting out on the back roads (graduating from the parking lots) and let me assure you that they can be the worst. People FLY on those roads sometimes. And then, no matter how well the kid can navigate side streets, we have to take them out in the traffic sometime. And when we do, they just are not going to do everything perfectly.

Sometimes the back roads are the worst. I live on a back road, and I constantly get tailed driving to my house. I want to put a sign on my car saying that I got a speeding ticket on those roads! Speed limit is 25 on our road, 30 on the roads leading to it. NO ONE wants to drive that slow, but I sure do it now.

DS got his permit in May, and he still hasn't been behind the wheel. Have just been too busy, the weather's been so lousy, and we have to take the time to get to the best parking lot where I know there's hardly anyone around (where both DDs started). Really have to do that...soon.

Good luck to your DS! And you.

 

[laurie31]

It's been awhile ago, but if my parents were teaching us how to drive we stayed out of other people's way. We drove on side streets, practiced in parking lots and didn't drive during high traffic volume hours. Technically, it's illegal to allow your child to drive without even a permit for the very same reason you probaby made this post; it's unsafe, it interferes with the traffic patterns, and you get angry drivers trying to negotiate around your child.

If you're not going to have a Driver's Ed sign on your car, at least keep him off the roads and out of the way of other drivers. With the DE sign other drivers may be more patient and understanding. Without the DE sign other drivers may think there's either a kook behind the wheel or (worse) someone intentionally trying to tick them off.

I was assuming the OP's son had his permit. Once you get it, you still have to actually learn to operate the car somehow.

My Dad used to take me to the (totally empty) school parking lot to practice until I was comfortable handling the car, but it's still nothing like being out on the road. I'm not sure how anyone can learn without actually getting out on the road.

Where are you suggesting her son learn? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm headed this way with my DD in only 2 years and honestly want to know.

 

[Feralpeg]

I totally empathize with you, OP. DD just got her license. She is 21 years old. She's had her permit since she was 16. I finally hired a driving school for her this summer. They took her out three times. At the end, they took her to get her license. She passed. Is this a good thing? I really don't know.

She scares me to death. She is still so unsure of herself. She won't drive unless I'm with her and we always end up in an argument because I am such a nervous passenger. I wish there was someone here who could ride with her so that she could gain some confidence. Until she gets more experience and shows more confidence, I will continue to be a bad passenger. Yet, she can't get any experience because I won't ride with her. ARGH!!!!!

 

[Nancy]

I was assuming the OP's son had his permit. Once you get it, you still have to actually learn to operate the car somehow.

My Dad used to take me to the (totally empty) school parking lot to practice until I was comfortable handling the car, but it's still nothing like being out on the road. I'm not sure how anyone can learn without actually getting out on the road.

Where are you suggesting her son learn? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm headed this way with my DD in only 2 years and honestly want to know.

Me too! I know that you shouldn't start them out day 1 in heavy traffic but somewhere in there they need to learn how to handle heavy traffic. Starting out was empty parking lots and side streets.

Me? I usually figure if I'm behind a car with a kid driving and an older adult is next to them that they are learning to drive and yes, I have the patience of a saint then.

 

[AristocatFan]

Really, I would love to have a Student Driver sign. Haven't seen one around here. DS(15) is in Driver's Ed this summer and will have his permit for over a year before he is eligible to get his license. With the new laws, even with taking DE they still put most of the responsibility on the parents. I started out taking him (and his older brother when he started) to a cemetery to get them used to the car. It's slow, quiet and some of the roads are really narrow. But I'll let the DE instructor take him on the interstate!

Seriously, one of the hardest thing to do as a parent is to hand over the car keys, sit in the passenger seat and realize you have no control. OP, I totally understand.

 

[Imzadi]

DS got his permit in May, and he still hasn't been behind the wheel. Have just been too busy, the weather's been so lousy, and we have to take the time to get to the best parking lot where I know there's hardly anyone around (where both DDs started). Really have to do that...soon.

After he gets some practice, make sure you do take him out in rainy weather. In CA, they don't know how to drive in the RAIN! You see cars flipped over and skidded & smashed into street dividers - the way we see them in snowy blizzards, because they don't know enough to slow down when it rains or how to use their brakes properly in a skid.

OP, try to go to the mall parking lots on Sunday after they close early. It will still be daylight and really empty then. It's a great place to learn the 3 point turns, u-turns, parallel parking and just making circles so DS knows how to maneuver. When I learned to do circles, it was then that I knew I could really handle the corners, curves and if need be, how to swerve around someone.

 

[kidzmom3]

I totally empathize with you, OP. DD just got her license. She is 21 years old. She's had her permit since she was 16. I finally hired a driving school for her this summer. They took her out three times. At the end, they took her to get her license. She passed. Is this a good thing? I really don't know.

She scares me to death. She is still so unsure of herself. She won't drive unless I'm with her and we always end up in an argument because I am such a nervous passenger. I wish there was someone here who could ride with her so that she could gain some confidence. Until she gets more experience and shows more confidence, I will continue to be a bad passenger. Yet, she can't get any experience because I won't ride with her. ARGH!!!!!

I am surprised the driving school didn't drive with her more. In MA (ages 21 and under)you are required to have 30 hours of classroom time, 12 hours of driving time and 6 hours of observation with your driving school. As the parent, you also have to turn in a log that shows dates and times that you drove with your child. It must have at least 30 hours.

 

[kirbsam]

It's been awhile ago, but if my parents were teaching us how to drive we stayed out of other people's way. We drove on side streets, practiced in parking lots and didn't drive during high traffic volume hours. Technically, it's illegal to allow your child to drive without even a permit for the very same reason you probaby made this post; it's unsafe, it interferes with the traffic patterns, and you get angry drivers trying to negotiate around your child.

If you're not going to have a Driver's Ed sign on your car, at least keep him off the roads and out of the way of other drivers. With the DE sign other drivers may be more patient and understanding. Without the DE sign other drivers may think there's either a kook behind the wheel or (worse) someone intentionally trying to tick them off.

i think you missed the point here entirely. this kid has his temps and is learning to drive the family car. there is no drivers ed sign to be had. he is just like every other kid. overly cautious, and probably driving the speed limit. good luck, to the op. we just had one get her license, and it was a tough time.

 

[bookgirl]

I was assuming the OP's son had his permit. Once you get it, you still have to actually learn to operate the car somehow.

My Dad used to take me to the (totally empty) school parking lot to practice until I was comfortable handling the car, but it's still nothing like being out on the road. I'm not sure how anyone can learn without actually getting out on the road.

Where are you suggesting her son learn? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm headed this way with my DD in only 2 years and honestly want to know.

I drove alittle with my parents or brother, but they always took me out very late at night or very early in the moring. Less traffic really they just wanted me comfortable with a car. Most of my experience with daytime, busy roads, "normal" driving came in my drivers ed course. Big tank of a car, big sign saying student driver, extra brake on his side.

 

[mikehn]

Just remember to stay out of the far left lane and everything will be just fine.